Apparatus comprising a thread-advancing reel for the treatment of filamentary material such as yarn



May 3, 1955 TRUlTT 2,707,384

APPARATUS COMPRISING A 'THREAD-ADVANCING REEL FOR THE TREATMENT OF FILAMENTARY MATERIAL SUCH AS YARN Original Filed April 2'7, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 3, 1955 J. A. TRUITT 2,707,384

APPARATUS COMPRISING A THREAD-ADVANCING REEL FOR THE ATMENT YFILAMENTARY MATERIAL SUCH AS N Original Filed 11/27; 1948 Y Y heats-Sheet 2 United States Patent APPARATUS COMPRISING a THREAD-ADVANC- ING REEL FOR THE TREATMENT or FILA- MENTARY MATERIAL SUCH AS YARN Joseph A. Truitt, West Chester, Pa., assiguor to American Viscose Corporation, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Delaware 14 Claims. (Cl. 68 200) This invention relates to improved apparatus for the liquid treatment of continuously running filaments, yarns, tows and the like. This application is a continuing application of my application Serial No. 23,511, filed April 27, 1948, now abandoned, which in turn was a division of application Serial No. 633,086, filed December 6, 1945, now Patent 2,513,381.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an improvement in apparatus for the liquid treatment of running yarns and the like as they are carried through a helical path, such as the path followed by the yarn as it is carried about a thread-advancing, thread-storage device or reel. The objects of the invention are accomplished by supplying the liquid inwardly of the helix and causing it to flow outwardly through the helix by centrifugal force, the liquid discharged from the helix being either withdrawn directly or caused to continuously play upon the helix as it is moved axially therealong to one or more suitable discharge regions spaced axially from each other about the helix. Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the drawing and the description thereof hereinafter.

In the drawing which is illustrative of the embodiments of the invention:

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of one embodiment;

Figure 2 is a transverse section taken on line II-II of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the spray-distributing device shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a transverse section showing a modification of reel bar structure;

Figure 5 is a sectional elevation of a modification;

Figure 6 is an axial transverse cross-section of a mod ified form of guard of the type shown in Figure 5;

Figure 6a is a section on line Via-Via of Figure 6;

Figure 7 is a somewhat diagrammatic transverse section through a modification providing countereurrent flow; and

Figure 8 is a somewhat diagfammatic sectional elevation of a modified arrangement.

Referring particularly to Figures 1 to 3-, the filamentary strand 2 to be treated is shown proceeding to the lower end of the supporting bars of a thread-advancing reel comprising a concentric reel member 3 having a plurality of grooves 4 formed therein, thereby leaving a set of rigid concentric thread-supporting bars 5 on the member. The concentric member is mounted for rotation by a hollow shaft 6 provided with a driving sheave 7 and rotatably supported in a stationary frame 8. Frame 8 carries a projecting bearing 9 about which there is provided a bushing 11) having a peripheral bearing surface the axis of which is eccentric and inclined with respect to the axis of the concentric member 3. Upon this eccentric and inclined bearing surface, a second reel member 3' com prising a flange 11 and a plurality of peripheral spaced bars 12 is mounted. The bars 12 are disposed within the grooves 4 of the concentric member 3 with sufficient play to allow actuation thereof by virtue of the eccentric and 2,797,384 Patented May 3, 1955 inclined bearing. The upper ends of the bars 12 may be reinforced by a plate 13. Pins 3;; extend downwardly from concentric reel member 3 into recesses 3r in the eccentric reel member 3', these pins and recesses serving to transmit the rotation of the driven concentric member 3 to the eccentric member 3'.

An annular shroud or skirt 14 is carried at the lower end of the concentric member 3 and serves to deflect any liquids flowing down that member into an annular groove or recess 15 within the flange 11 of the eccentric or reel member. A plurality of downwardly directed bores 16 connect the recess 15 to the outer portion of the flange and direct the liquids therethrough into a guard or receptacle 17 carried by the frame 8. A second shroud or skirt 18 carried by the flange 11 prevents any liquid from getting back to the bearing 10.

Two concentric pipes 19 and 20 extend through the hollow shaft 6 and have little or no contact therewith. The outer pipe 19 receives liquid through a T-connection 21 with a communicating pipe 22 and discharges the liquid received through a plurality of bores 23 in the upper end of the pipe which terminates about midway of the height of the reel. The inner pipe 20 carries a radial spray nozzle 24 and directs the liquid outwardly to the annular sawtooth baffle 25 shown more particularly in perspective in Figure 3. This baflle may be carried upon an annular partition or plate 26 secured and extending transversely within the concentric reel member 3 and dividing the reel member into two distinct treating zones. The outer pipe 19 may carry a shroud 27 which overhangs the inner upwardly projecting flange 28 of the guard plate 29 carried by the concentric reel member 3. The concentric reel member 3 is provided with bores 30 extending from the inside to the outer periphery of the bars 5 thereof. The bores may have any suitable directions, whether straightline or arcuate, but as shown they are indicated as being radial. Additional bores 31 may be provided in the concentric member 3 to supply liquid from the interior thereof to the bottoms of the grooves 4 and these bores may again have any suitable direction. If desired, the bars 12 may be provided with similar bores extending from their inner surface to their outer periphery to facilitate the distribution of liquid from the helix carried by the bars 5 and 12 of the reel. An annular receptacle 32 is supported on the frame 8 and opens inwardly in proximity to the helix so as to receive liquids discharged therefrom. An annular partition or plate 33 may be provided to maintain the liquids discharged from a zone of the helix thereabove separate from that discharged from the zone of the helix therebelow and in this case separate discharge pipes 34 and 35 may be provided for the separate compartments of the guard 32.

The embodiment of Figures 1 to 3 thus provides for a two-stage treatment of the yarn conveyed as a helix about the periphery of the reel, the liquid supplied by pipe 22 serving as the first stage of treatment and that supplied by pipe 26 serving as the second stage of the treatment of liquids. Additional stages of treatment may be provided by supplying additional concentric pipes or, if desired, by introducing a liquid to the topmost zone of the reel from a spray nozzle extending downwardly into the zone surrounded by the upper por tion of the reel. The spacing of the successive convolutions of yarn in the helix may be controlled (by adjusting the inclination and/or eccentricity of the axis of the eccentric and inclined reel member) to arrange them close together and preferably in contact, so that as the liquid is forced outwardly by centrifugal force resulting from rapid rotation of the reel, it is forced to flow through the yarn to a greater extent than through the interstices or spaces between the convolutions of the helix. As the reel rotates, the yarn in the helix alternately shifts from similar in construction to that shown in Figure 1.

one set of bars on the concentric reel member to the other set on the eccentric reel member so that there is full opportunity for the liquid to reach all portions of the helix as the helix moves about the annular zone constituted by each treating stage. The bores through the reel members'and bars likewise increase the thoroughness of distribution of liquid upon the helix. Distribution may also be satisfactorily effected by changing grooves 4 into slots which communicate with the interior of the concentric member 3.

Figure 4 illustrates a modification of the bar crosssection. In this figure, it is assumed that the reel rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow and the concentric member 3 is provided with yarn-supporting bars 5a the outer portion of which is turned backwardly from a radial direction. Similarly, the intervening bars 12a of the eccentric reel member have outer portions which are backwardly deflected from the radial. This construction serves to deflect the liquid in a manner which causes it to flow back under the yarns even where carried in contact with the bars (the backward direction referring to the direction of rotation of the reel).

In Figure 5, a liquid-treating reel is shown on a horizontal axis instead of a vertical as in Figure l and a single stage of liquid treatment is shown. The reel is In general, however, it is simpler in that the member 11 which is mounted on the eccentric and inclined bearing is not provided with the recess 15, bores 16 and shroud 18 as in Figure 1. However, member 11 carries the bars 12 which are reinforced at their outer end by an annular plate 13a having the central opening 36 adapted to receive the liquid supply pipe 37. The reel is mounted upon a solid shaft 6 rotatably supported in the stationary frame 8 which carries the projecting bearing 9. A flexible sealing membrane 38 is joined to the concentric member 3 and the eccentric member 11 to prevent liquids from getting back to the bearing 10. Perforations and 31 are provided as in Figure 1. The guard 32a may be similar to that shown in Figure 1, but as shown preferably comprises a central portion having an internal deflecting surface 39 which is close to but does not engage the yarn helix carried by the reel. Grooves or recesses 40 and 41 are provided in the housing 32a for receiving liquid thrown off the reel and discharged from the space between it and the internal surface 39 of the guard. Liquid discharge connections 42 and 43 may be provided to a common drain pipe 44. As shown, the liquid supply pipe 37 extends a considerable distance inside the reel and is provided with perforations 45 for spraying the liquid within the reel.

In the embodiment of Figure 5, the reel is driven at such a speed as to cause the liquid to flow outwardly through the bars of the reel under the influence of centrifugal force. Again, as in Figure l, the adjacent convolutions of the helix may be closely spaced, preferably 4 in side-by-side contact so that the largest body of liquid has to go through the yarn rather than through the interstices between adjacent convolutions of yarns in the helix. The peripheral surface 39 surrounding the intermediate portion of the yarn helix maintains the liquid in contact with the yarn as a continuously flowing body thereof which continually plays upon the yarn helix as the helix rotates within the surface 39. The precise action of the liquid deflected by the surface 39 upon the yarn helix depends somewhat upon the spacing of the surface 39 from the helix. If this spacing is quite small of the order of of an inch or less, the liquid discharged from the helix forms a continuous sheet which is maintained against the helix by the surface 39. This sheet is continuously replenished from inside the reel and flows laterally outwardly to the recesses 40 and 41 from which it is finally discharged. If the spacing is wider of the order of /8 inch or more, the liquid thrown from the helix strikes the surface 39 and splashes back upon the helix in the form of a spray. Again, the liquid is continually supplied from inside the reel and gradually flows to the recesses 40 and 41 at the ends of the guard 32a. Regardless of which construction is used, a highly effective liquid-treating action is obtained. The liquid may be caused to flow preferentially toward one or the other of the recesses 40 and 41 by suitably grooving the internal surface 39. Such grooving may take the form of rifiing 39' as shown in Figures 6 and 6a.

In Figure 7, the internal surface 39a is tapered or conical with the larger diameter toward the supported end of the reel. The concentric member 312 of the reel is grooved (as members 3 in the other embodiments) to provide a plurality of peripherally spaced longitudinal bars 5, the grooves being adapted to receive the bars of the eccentric and inclined member 11. However, the member 3b is provided with a liquid-receiving cavity of somewhat more limited depth as measured from the free end of the reel and the perforations 30 and 31 are provided in a limited annular zone of the reel toward its outer end and within the smaller diameter of the conical surface 39a. Liquid is introduced by the nozzle 37a and flows through the perforations 30 and 31 to the helix of the material. Because of the tapered configuration of the surface 390 the liquid flows mainly toward the larger diameter end thereof and is mainly discharged from the collecting recess 40. The yarn may be supplied at the supported end of the reel and withdrawn at the free end of the reel in order to provide a countercurrent liquid treatment action. The annular collecting groove 41 may receive a certain amount of liquid splashed into it from the smaller end of the conical surface 39a of the guard. In this embodiment, as well as in the others, a suction pump may be associated with each of the collecting recesses or grooves 40 and 41 to facilitate the withdrawal of the spent liquid. It is obvious that a concurrent liquid treatment may be obtained by introducing the liquid through perforations in a limited annulus of the reel toward its supported end and arranging the conical surface 39a with the larger diameter toward the free end of the reel.

In Figure 8 a vertically disposed reel comprising the concentric member 3 and the eccentric member 11 similar in construction to the corresponding parts of Figure 1 is shown positioned within a conical guard 46 for directing the liquid discharged from the reel to a suitable drain 47. In this embodiment, the liquid may simply be directed downwardly into the cavity of the reel by means of a nozzle 48.

The liquid-treating units illustrated in the various figures of the drawing may be arranged in multiple stage machines. Thus, a plurality of the vertically arranged units of Figures 1 or 8 may be disposed at successive points along a horizontal line or in succeeding steps up or down in a common vertical plane. Similarly, a. plurality of units of the type shown in Figure 5 may be arranged along a vertical line or along a horizontal line so that the yarn may travel either up or down through the devices arranged in the vertical line or in a lateral direction from unit to unit along the horizontally aligned units.

It is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for the handling of filamentary material comprising a thread-advancing reel for carrying the material thereabout through a helix comprising a rotatable cylindrical member having an internal generally hollow space and a plurality of peripherally spaced grooves on its external face, a second member rotatably mounted on an axis eccentric and inclined to the axis of the cylindrical member and having secured thereto for rotation therewith a plurality of spaced bars disposed in the grooves of the cylindrical member, means for rotating the cylindrical member and the eccentric member simultaneously about their respective axes to impart relative motion between the bars of the two sets for effecting thread-advancing motion endwise of the reel, the outer portions of the reel bars having both lateral faces inclined from the radial direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the reel, a plurality of passages connecting the space within the cylindrical member with the space surrounding it, means for supplying a liquid to the space Within the cylindrical member, and guard means about the bars and spaced therefrom to receive the liquid thrown therefrom.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which the reel is of cantilever construction and advances the filamentary material toward the free end thereof.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which the reel is of cantilever construction and advances the filamentary material toward the free end thereof, and the liquid-supply means projects into the space Within the cylindrical member from the free end thereof.

4. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which the reel is disposed on a horizontal axis.

5. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which the reel is disposed on an axis inclined to the horizontal.

6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which the reel is disposed on a vertical axis.

7. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which the guard means serves only to collect the discharged liquid away from the reel.

8. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 in which the guard means comprises an annular liquid-deflecting surface closely surrounding the helix to return the liquid thereto and to continually play the liquid on the material in a predetermined zone of the helix.

9. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 comprising a transverse partition dividing the space Within the cylindrical member into distinct zones offset from one another axially of the reel, and the liquid-supplying means comprises separate conduits connected to each zone for supplying different liquids thereto.

10. A threadaclvancing reel having an axis of rotation and comprising two sets of axially extending bars having opposed lateral faces, means to rotate the reel, means to impart relative motion between the bars to move the convolutions of thread carried on the bars axially of the reel, the outer portions of the reel bars having both lateral faces inclined from the radial direction opposite to the direction of rotation of the reel.

ll. Apparatus for the handling of filamentary material comprising a thread-advancing reel comprising a rotatable cylindrical member having an internal generally hollow space and a plurality of peripherally spaced grooves on its external face, a second member rotatably mounted on an axis eccentric and inclined to the axis of the cylindrical member and having secured thereto for rotation therewith a plurality of spaced bars disposed in the grooves of the cylindrical member, means for rotating the cylindrical member and the eccentric member simultaneously about their respective axes to impart relative motion between the bars of the two sets for effecting thread-advancing motion endwise of the reel, a plurality of passages connecting the space within the cylindrical member with the space surrounding it, transverse partitions in the hollow member to provide separate zones, and separate means for separately supplying different liquids to the different zones.

12. Apparatus in accordance with claim 11 in which the reel is supported from one end and supply conduits for the liquids extend through the supported end of the reel.

13. Apparatus for the handling of filamentary material comprising a thread-advancing reel comprising a rotatable cylindrical member having an internal generally hollow space and a plurality of peripherally spaced grooves on its external face, a second member rotatably mounted on an axis eccentric and inclined to the axis of the cylindrical member and having secured thereto for rotation therewith a plurality of spaced bars disposed in the grooves of the cylindrical member, means for rotating the cylindrical member and the eccentric member simultaneously about their respective axes to impart relative motion between the bars of the two sets for effecting threadadvancing motion endwise of the reel, a plurality of passages connecting the space within the cylindrical member with the space surrounding it, transverse partitions in the hollow member to provide separate zones, separate means for separately supplying different liquids to the different zones, and baflie means in the said space Within the cylindrical member for directing in different directions the liquid from the last-named separate liquidsupplying means.

14. Apparatus for the handling of filamentary material comprising a thread-advancing reel comprising a rotatable cylindrical member having an internal generally hollow space and a plurality of peripherally spaced grooves on its external face, a second member rotatably mounted on an axis eccentric and inclined to the axis of the cylindrical member and having secured thereto for rotation therewith a plurality of spaced bars disposed in the grooves of the cylindrical member, means for rotating the cylindrical member and the eccentric member simultaneously about their respective axes to impart relative motion between the bars of the two sets for effecting thread-advancing motion endwise of the reel, a plurality of passages connecting the space within the cylindrical member with the space surrounding it, transverse partitions in the hollow member to provide separate zones, separate means for separately supplying different liquids to the dilferent zones, and a radially extending sawtooth baffle in the said space within the cylindrical member for directing in different directions the liquid from the last-named separate liquid-supplying means.

No references cited. 

1. APPARATUS FOR THE HANDLING OF FILAMENTARY MATERIAL COMPRISING A THREAD-ADVANCING REEL FOR CARRYING THE MATTERIAL THEREABOUT THROUGH A HELIX COMPRISING A ROTATABLE CYLINDRICAL MEMBER HAVING AN INTERNAL GENERALLY HOLLOW SPACE AND A PLURALITY OF PERIPHERALLY SPACED GROOVES ON ITS EXTERNAL FACE, A SECOND MEMBER ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON AN AXIS ECCENTRIC AND INCLINED TO THE AXIS OF THE CYLINDRICAL MEMBER AND HAVING SECURED THERETO FOR ROTATION THEREWITH A PLURALITY OF SPACED BARS DISPOSED IN THE GROOVES OF THE CYLINDRICAL MEMBER, MEANS FOR ROTATING THE CYLINDRICAL MEMBER AND THE ECCENTRIC MEMBER SIMULTANEOUSLY ABOUT THEIR RESPECTIVE AXES TO IMPART RELATIVE MOTION BETWEEN THE BARS OF THE TWO SETS FOR EFFECTING THREAD-ADVANCING MOTION ENDWISE OF THE REEL, THE OUTER PORTIONS OF THE REEL BARS HAVING BOTH LATERAL FACES INCLINED FROM THE RADIAL DIRECTION OPPOSITE TO THE DIRECTION OF ROTATION OF THE REEL, A PLURALITY OF PASSAGES CONNECTING THE SPACE WITHIN THE CYLINDRICAL MEMBER WITH THE SPACE SURROUNDING IT, MEANS FOR SUPPLYING A LIQUID TO THE SPACE WITHIN THE CYLINDRICAL MEMBER, AND GUARD MEANS ABOUT THE BARS AND SPACED THEREFROM TO RECEIVE THE LIQUID THROWN THEREFROM. 